2011 Books

In terms of volume, 2011 was an average year, with 23 books read. It was also average in terms of quality – no good or bad stand-outs.

The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court – January, 2011 – An interesting behind the scenes look at the Supreme Court. I was surprised to see how Thomas in particular is portrayed as very ineffectual because of his strict interpretation and application of the Constitution toward all rulings. And a few justices’ ended up having very different political stances from the presidents that appointed them, much to their surprise.

Consent to Kill – February, 2011 – One of the Mitch Rapp / SEALs series and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Probably because I could imagine how much my SEAL friend would hate every page.

The Hunger Games – February, 2011 – One of the hot new young adult series. Interesting premise, might have enjoyed it more if it were a little darker.

Will Rogers: A Biography – August, 2011 – One of the very few books I’ve re-read. Love this man, he inspires me to be productive, kind, and love those around you.

Darkness at Noon – September, 2011 – This was a book I picked up at the library, trying to get back into the Modern Library 100 best novels.

Neutral Buoyancy: Adventures in a Liquid World – September, 2011 – Tells the history of diving through several specific stories of innovators, etc. Probably would have been fine serialized in Outside or some other outdoor magazine.

The Mountain Between Us – September, 2011 – A recommendation from a friend. I liked it a lot, much better than some of the other books that get hyped so much (I’m looking at you, Hunger Games)

The God Delusion – December, 2011 – Very thought-provoking. I catch myself thinking about this book several weeks after reading it. It’s a tough call, but I’m calling this one “best of the year” because it has stuck with me for a while now.